Worried Vbac won't happen/UPDATE - IT DID!

It sounds like I have a better chance at a successful Vbac if I go into labor on my own. I had a C Section due to baby's position in 2009 and have never gone into labor. He was 7 lbs 14oz at 39 weeks. I have an ultrasound scheduled at 38 1/2 weeks to "make sure he isn't too big". I'm 50% and 1 as of this morning which is the same as last week. Baby is head down. I have no idea if my cervix effaced/dilated with my last pregnancy because they didn't check me. I know, mentally, that labor can come on very sudden and your effacement/dilation don't determine when/if you go into labor. I can't help but worry that it's not going to happen. My Drs say if I don't make progress by 40 weeks they will want to schedule a CSection - although they would allow me to go to 41 weeks.

Any words of wisdom for me? Am I overreacting too soon?

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UPDATE:

Dawson Daniel

5.24.12 2:55PM

9lbs 6.6oz, 22 3/4"

Real contractions started around 2AM. It was so painful it woke me up and I headed to the bathroom. I noticed a little bloody show and I had not had any like this before so I was fairly confident something was happening. I waited for about 30 minutes and contractions were coming every 5 minutes (and they HURT) so I got in touch with my mom who happened to be awake. She got moving and headed out since she is an hour away from us. I woke up Andrew a few minutes after that because I needed to pack a few things, get dressed, and I really wanted to be ready to leave as soon as my mom arrived. I was contracting a lot. One would start and turn into more of a dull pain after 30 seconds but about a minute after that there would be another peak of intense pain. I called my Dr. who was not happy that I had woken her up and basically told me to go to the hospital. Out of the 4 Drs in my practice this was the Dr. I already didn't like. We left as soon as my mom arrived and had a very painful and uncomfortable 10 minute ride to the hospital. They got me checked in quickly and when the nurse checked me she said I was about 80% effaced and 3 cm dilated. 3 days prior I was about 50% effaced and between 1-2 cm dilated.

The nurse called my Dr. who "passed" me which basically means she wanted them to monitor me. Unfortunately this also means they can't give me anything for the pain. My only option was to fire my group and see the hospital's Dr. or wait it out. The nurse and my husband were very supportive and told me I was doing great and that I could do it. I was 4cm at the second check at 6:15AM, making progress somewhat quickly so my nurse called my Dr. again who then said she would admit me. They gave me some pain meds through the IV but they were almost worthless. The nurse got the baby things ready because I was progressing so quickly and with my frequent contractions I was somewhat unpredictable.

I only had to deal with the Dr. I didn't like for about an hour and she was in and out. The shift change happened at 7 but she covered for the next Dr. for about another 2 hours BUT I had my epidural by this point and was feeling MUCH better. The pain in my belly was gone but I did start to notice pressure way down low during contractions. She broke my water by placing in internal monitor on baby at 7:33.

My daytime nurse was awesome and was determined to help me Vbac. She tried to keep me happy and comfortable while trying a few positions to help move things along. I measured about 6cm at 8:30AM. Unfortunately Dawson didn't like those positions as much, heart rate dropped to the 70s so I was pretty much on my right side alternating between sitting more upright centered (which felt best for me and helped the epidural stay even). The Dr. said if he did that again it's over and we're headed to the OR. They gave me Terbutaline to relax the uterus between contractions because I was contracting a little too much and they weren't necessarily productive contractions. They placed another monitor inside of me by baby to monitor the strength of the contractions. I no longer needed the monitoring belts on my belly. Every time they checked me he had descended so that was hopeful.

The Dr. shift change happened around 10AM and the Dr. I didn't like left! Around 1:40PM, near the end of labor, I developed a fever of about 101 so they gave me antibiotics and prepped me that he probably also had a fever which meant he'd have to get checked out sooner than later once he arrived.

2:07PM The Dr. thought during contractions I was almost complete and said I should try a push to see if the head would move down more. They liked what they saw so we started pushing. The Dr. left for awhile during the early pushing and the nurse had me try the squat bar but it was so hard to squat and frankly just exhausting so we went back to pushing while I was on my back. I couldn't feel pain but I definitely felt pressure. It was still a bit hard to push but I was doing well, apparently. The Dr. came back and we continued. She told me she was certain that I would tear during pushing unless she did an episiotomy so I agreed to that procedure. Healing from a surgical straight cut is easier than random tear/cuts. The pushing phase took about a total of 45 minutes and Dawson was out at 2:55PM. They were all amazed at how much hair he had, how big he looked, and that it was such an "easy" delivery.

The entire experience was amazing. Andrew told me he was so proud of me and that I was handling everything so much better than he could have. Once Dawson was out there was just an immediate feeling of awe, relief, and joy. They put him on a blanket and then on my chest and I got to just look at him for awhile before they cleaned him off and took his stats, etc. He received apgar scores of 9 and 9 which is pretty much perfect.

He had a fever so they wanted to check him out more. His blood sugar was low so they ended up giving him formula (it's hospital policy if it's at or below 44). When they brought him back his fever was gone and it was just the blood sugar problem we were concerned with but they said it was very typical for babies over 9 lbs to have this problem for the first 24 hours of life outside the womb.

I tried to nurse two different times that night but he just wasn't interested and we decided to allow the nurse to feed him formula during the night so I could try to rest more instead of feeding him AND pumping throughout the night. The next day he started nursing just fine and his last blood sugar check was also fine.

Recovery from a vaginal birth is so much easier than a c section. I would choose vbac again in a heartbeat. I have some discomfort "down there" but it's mostly caused by the hemorrhoids which should be shrinking soon. Even with that pain/discomfort it's nothing like the 8" surgical cut in my lower abdomen! Both the Dr. that delivered me and the Dr. that checked on me the next day said they would not have allowed me to try to vbac had they known his size. It's a good thing they did the growth ultrasound at 38 weeks and I went into labor on my own!

Comments (10)

I'm in a similar boat. I don't understand when they say they "won't let you go to 41 weeks." What are they going to do strap you down? I say as long as the baby is healthy and your placenta is functioning, tell them to leave you alone! You could try evening primrose oil. I've heard it helps to ripen the cervix and helps to keep you from tearing if you do go into labor. Good luck, Mama! Remember this is your body and your choices.

I totally understand your fear. But the first thing I want you to do is take those negative thoughts and toss them out the window! You got time. (trust me ive been back and forth on these feelings since 37 weeks and I'm due on Tuesday) can they at least TRY to break your water before they do a RCS? That's what the plan is here. If he doesn't come before, we are going in next Thursday and they will break my water and hope for the best. I've read 2 recent successful VBAC inductions recently I believe both were without piticon. This made me hopeful. You can do it. In the meantime, go on walks, DTD, and tell your mind everything is going to be ok. Because it will be and you can do it!!!

Yes, you have a BETTER chance of successful VBAC if you go into labor on your own by 40 weeks, but that's not your ONLY chance! I just posted a "big baby" thread and got all kinds of great stories of women VBACing big babies.

You asked what you could do--When you have your weight check ultrasound, make sure to ask about baby's position, as that can affect whether and when you go into labor! If it's not quite what it should be (baby should be facing back and sort of right, with the back of its head toward your left hip), you can exercises from Spinning Babies or the Miles Circuit to help him/her settle down better.

I guess I don't understand how they know when the placenta stops functioning and how much time you have before baby is hurt. I don't know how long is too long to wait for spontaneous labor. They don't want to see your % risk increase so I think that is why they push for evacuation (ha) earlier.

I am in the exact same position. I was due on 5/10 and my Dr wont induce me...just wants to do a rcs Friday 5/18. I am trying everything possible to start labor on my own before then. At my last appt my cervix was still high and tight.
Not sure why my Dr wont let me wait a little longer to schedule a rcs ...all the women in my family have late babies. Super frustrated about this and am trying my best to not stress. Hang in there....I hope you can have a successful VBAC

I don't want to hijack your post with my birth story, but I just had a successful vbac 4 hours ago on my due date.

The one thing that helped was reading Eccleasties starting @ chapter 3 (I would classify myself as Buddhist/pagan, but its the to everything there is a season part.). Essentially I needed to accept the part where there is a line in the sand and I was going to do everything I could to get there (walking, very strong RRLT, epo probably too much, and trusting my body). I needed to fight the good fight.

You know what you need. I needed to visualize a nuvbac post on facebook.

Trust your body, soul and mind! Feel free to pm. I can only share my experience but hopefully it will help you.

I feel the same way, I actually stated crying yesterday just thinking that I might not ever push a baby out. I had contractions every 5 minutes for 9 hours on Monday, but they stopped overnight and them st my appt the next morning I was only partially thinned and a fingertip dilated. I was so disappointed. The midwife suggested inducing at 41 weeks our doing a rcs. At my 39 week appt I had a much more supportive midwife who encouraged me to wait until the end of my 41st week to be induced, so that's what I'm sticking with. I'm going into l&d on Sunday to have a nst and afi, that is one week past due. Add long is everything is okay, I plan to hold off on an induction until at least Friday.
Just remember that it is normal to have a baby between 38 and 42 weeks and you aren't considered post- term until 42 weeks. Bargain with your provider, offer to do nst and afi before making any decisions.

Thanks for the support. I did acupuncture Friday/Sat and started losing my plug on Monday! I have no idea if the acupuncture helped this along but hey this must mean I'm effacing more right?! It was quite a bit on Monday and then more random Tuesday/Wed - not so much anymore and no bloody show. Appointment (39 1/2 weeks) tomorrow.

Well I'm now 75% and 2cm instead of 50% and 1cm. Finally, some progress.... My Dr. was confident I will get my trial of labor. I have a non stress test on my due date (Monday) and she mentioned scheduling an induction for 41 weeks and because of Labor Day I get an extra day so the induciton will likely be scheduled for 41 weeks 1 day with pitocin. Hopefully I'll go into labor on my own and he stays content in there until the time is right!